Cassino Fantastica

Cassino Fantastica 2026

The sixth edition of Cassino Fantastica took place on Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, within the San Benedetto Institute in Cassino. It was a packed edition, with the audience taking center stage across the main stage, conference room, workshops, games area, and artist alley.

Among the most anticipated events were the tribute to the 50th anniversary of Goldrake, featuring a tribute to voice actor Pino Colizzi, talks on comic book publishing ("Working at Bonelli"), a debate on artificial intelligence in art, and meetings with science fiction writer Dario Tonani. The stage hosted cosplay competitions, karaoke contests, nerd super-quizzes dedicated to the 80s, and musical tributes to anime theme songs.

2026 Program

Conference Room — Saturday: "Portrait of a Cosplayer" workshop with Enrico Duratorre; "Visions from Mondo9" with Dario Tonani; "Fantastica Short Films"; "Goldrakemania", 50 years of Goldrake and tribute to Pino Colizzi; "Rosse Tentazioni" literary prize; "A Kanji for a Friend" with Marco Fulgione. Sunday: "Who's Afraid of AI?" with Dario Tonani and Luca Barbieri; "Fantastica Crime"; "Working at Bonelli" with the screenwriter of Tex and Dragonero; "Lorenzo Bartoli Prize 2026"; "Artist Alley Talks".

Showcase Area (Main Stage)

Saturday: "Fantastica Open Mic", Karaoke Contest, anime theme song tribute with Adrisax, Studio Ghibli tribute by Duo Kazane, "Alecia sings Cristina" + WikiSigleTV Show, cosplay competition, and Lifetime Achievement Award to Giorgio Di Vita. Sunday: "Raiders of the Lost '80s" and nerd super-quiz, literary prizes, acoustic tribute to the Blues Brothers with Ocean Länd, the "Suona" concert by the band Johnny Freak, and the final cosplay competition with awards.

Fantastica Lab and Games Area

Comic book workshops ("Il Biciclettario"), creative writing with Max Gobbo and Simone Ardovini, and "Creatures & Monsters" workshop with Hutchdrav. In the Games Area: board games, card games, chess, and Dungeons & Dragons sessions with I Cavalieri del Drago APS.

Exhibitions

"Visions of Mondo9" with illustrations by Franco Brambilla and "Armageddon", a tribute to Ugo Verdi.

• Cosplay competitions with Junior and Open categories and final awards
• "Goldrakemania": 50 years of Goldrake with a tribute to voice actor Pino Colizzi
• Meetings with science fiction writer Dario Tonani (Mondo9)
• "Working at Bonelli" talk and "Who's Afraid of AI?" debate
• Artist Alley with independent illustrators and comic artists
• Lifetime Achievement Award to Giorgio Di Vita and concert by the band Johnny Freak

Getting there

Cassino is located in southern Lazio, in the province of Frosinone. By car, it is accessible via the A1 Milan-Naples motorway, taking the Cassino exit. By train, the Cassino station is served by the Rome-Naples line via Cassino, with direct connections from the capital. The San Benedetto Institute is located in the city center, with the entrance on Via Marconi.

Tickets

Admission is available for a modest fee, with reduced rates for cosplayers and free entry for preschool children. Daily tickets and two-day passes are available.

Tips

The event takes place in late spring: comfortable clothing is recommended. Cassino offers various accommodations and restaurants in the center, ideal for those wishing to combine their festival visit with a trip to the Abbey of Montecassino.